Firefighters at Borehamwood Fire Station kept their hoses very busy at the weekend

Not because there was a sudden surge of fires in the town, but because they had taken it upon themselves to clean residents' cars in aid of charity.

The venture was a first for the team. And it proved very successful.

A total of £667 was raised in the four hours that they soaped and scrubbed and hosed and even leathered around 150 cars.

Administrator at the Elstree Way station, Jane May said: "It was hard work but it was a lot of fun.

"We got very wet -- my trainers were soaked through by the time we had finished.

"We were charging £3.50 per car but many people gave more than that, someone even gave £25, they were all very generous.

"I think we did a good job of the cars. We even had someone leathering them to make them shine, and we had no complaints about our work from anyone!"

Members of Watford Rotaract Club also helped out at the car wash, which took place on Saturday, and there was a collection from shoppers at Tesco in Elstree Way to bump up the funds. Shell UK donated £50 towards the cause. All the money raised will be split between Childline, the MENCAP residential home in Furzehill Road, Borehamwood, and the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) at Mount Vernon Hospital.

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